Express your love

February 14, 2017

Express your love

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." Romans 12:10

1. Within the body of Christ, we do well in our devotion and proper expressions of love. We can certainly begin with those who influenced us in our faith, mentors or friends who helped us along the way. Hopefully, you have a community of believers where you can choose to encourage others. Choose to outdo one another in expressing appreciation for who a person is, what the do, and how you see God in their lives.

"Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." Romans 12:16

2. Paul's admonition is timeless. We can slide into superior view of self and forget; we may over-inflate our own importance. Considering those younger and perhaps less mature than us, and seeing them as Christ sees, helps foster a genuine love for others.

"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

3. Whether it's that one person at work or church, that one neighbor, that one child or even our spouse, God seems to keep folks in our path to help us demonstrate humility, gentleness, and patience. True, some people may never change no matter how we treat them. But you and I are responsible for our response to people, not their response or reaction to us. We're growing in Christ when we can begin to see others not only as more important but through loving eyes.

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." 1 Corinthians 7:5

4. Obviously the instruction here is to married couples. As we get busy in life, jobs, and different interests, we drift into things that can become a dangerous path. It's easy for a married couple to stop pursuing each other. Maybe we tire of being the initiator: Or maybe we've been hurt by rejection. Not only is sexual intimacy a gift from God, the connection and relationship is a beautiful and, indeed, holy experience. Growing in our marriages means being humble to pursue, pursue, and keep pursuing our mate.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

5. Whether we've been hurt or hurt someone else, the loving thing to do is to forgive or ask forgiveness. It's our nature to get our feelings hurt, to say things we regret, or to get angry to keep another at bay. But are not kindness and compassion better? Most of us appreciate it when our spouse or a friend is compassionate and the, with a few words, can disarm us: "I'm sorry you're feeling this way. . . I genuinely care about you. How can I help?" Sure, it takes some courage to muster up a kind response, but the benefits are a lot better than living with grudges, sarcasm, or hurtful words.

Suggestion:
Get a pen and paper and write your thoughts and share them with the ones you love? Pray for one another and pray together.

GB Essie & Lexton
by: Michael Easley - www.lifewaywomen.com